All Articles: Switch

We know when the Nintendo Switch will be released, and we know the basic details about what makes it different from the PS4 and Xbox One. So the biggest remaining question is definitely… how much will it cost? Today, we might have gotten our answer.

Toys R Us Canada is currently offering shoppers the chance to purchase a Switch system for $330 CAN, which roughly converts to $243 in the US. It’s possible this number is just a placeholder, but a retailer across the Atlantic is rumored to be readying a similar sale price. According to Let’s Play Video Games, UK retailer GAME is said to be planning to sell the Nintendo Switch for £200, which converts to $250 in the US.

If Nintendo is shooting for a global price point for the Switch that undercuts both Sony and Microsoft (and why wouldn’t they), $250 definitely seems like a good target to aim for.

Nintendo has announced plans to officially unveil the Switch’s retail price on January 12, so we’ll find out if these rumors are on the mark in less than two months.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot is very excited for the Nintendo Switch. In addition to reconfirming that Just Dance 2017 will be available for Nintendo’s next console, Guillemot also said the publisher has “at least one game that will definitely surprise you” in a recent Facebook post:

With the Switch’s unique capacities and design, Nintendo could again redefine the way we play games! The Switch is accessible at its core and will give people the freedom and the pleasure to share more experiences and play anywhere at anytime. The Ubisoft teams developing games for the Switch are inspired by these new possibilities, and I’m really happy that we’re able to continue doing great things with Nintendo. In addition to Just Dance 2017, I think there’s at least one game that will definitely surprise you!

Is Guillemot referring to Beyond Good & Evil 2? Who knows… but I can’t wait to see what surprises Ubisoft has in store for the Switch on January 12.

While we don’t yet know the hardware specifications of the Nintendo Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild makes a compelling case for the computing power it must have under the hood. And with the strong possibility that NBA 2K17 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Special Edition will also be available for Nintendo’s next console, we know it should be able to go toe-to-toe with anything the PS4 and Xbox One offer. But some publishers aren’t interested in that.

Capcom CEO Kenzo Tsujimoto recently discussed the company’s Switch plans during a quarterly financial report to investors last week. While the executive believes that multiplatform ports are possible on the Switch, he wants Capcom to focus on “something that will differ from PlayStation 4 and Xbox One titles.”

Here’s what Tsujimoto had to say about the Switch (thanks to WCCF Tech for the translation assist):

During the latest financial briefing, Capcom’s CEO Kenzo Tsujimoto has touched upon the company’s Nintendo Switch support. During the Q&A session, Tsujimoto stated that multiplatform development will be possible for the new Nintendo console, but that’s not what Capcom would like to do, as they seek to offer something that will differ from PlayStation 4 and Xbox One titles. Tsujimoto also added that the company is currently in an internal review phase regarding content and features that might be offered in Switch titles, so there are no additional details on the matter as of now.

Capcom released a number of unique games built exclusively for the Wii including Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure, Tatsunoko Vs Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars, and Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles. However, their recent projects with Nintendo have mostly been confined to the 3DS. Hopefully we’ll learn more about what Capcom has in store for the Switch when Nintendo fully unveils their next console on January 12.

UPDATE: Capcom has added an official English translation of the Q&A session to their Investor Relations page:

Q: What is Capcom’s stance with regards to developing for the Nintendo Switch?

A: It is excellent to have the market invigorated with new hardware launches. As a software publisher, we endeavor to develop games that offer enjoyment best suited to each piece of hardware’s features and target users. Following first party, in order to introduce our own content we are currently moving forward with internal planning and analysis as a partner company.

Q: Is it possible to develop multiplatform titles on the Nintendo Switch?

A: We are currently carrying out research with regards to multiplatform implementation of software for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on to the Nintendo Switch and thus are unable to comment at this moment. However, we do feel that there are differences in the desired direction and the play-style of the Nintendo Switch and those of the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. At Capcom, we determine which platform to release a title for after considering the features of both our software and the hardware in question, believing we must bring the enjoyment of our games to their maximum potential.

Koei Tecmo was one of the first publishers to pledge support to Nintendo’s Switch, all the way back in April when they revealed that at least one game was in the works for the console.

While many fans were hoping for a Hyrule Warriors sequel, Koei Tecmo’s Kou Shibusawa recently confirmed that the company’s first project for the Switch will be a game Nobunaga’s Ambition. The strategy franchise has a long history with Nintendo consoles, and previous entries have appeared on the NES, Super NES, and Game Boy. Though in more recent years, it’s found a home on the PC, PS3, and PS4.

The news was delivered during a Historical Simulation Game Day livestream (translated by Gematsu) with Shibusawa, who couldn’t confirm if the franchise’s Switch debut will be a new entry in the series or a port of a previously-released game.

The most recent game in the series, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension, was released for the PC and PS4 earlier this week.

Earlier this week, Nintendo announced plans to host a big “Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017” on January 12. So that means we’ve still got a few months to wildly speculate on what additional bells and whistles the consolemaker is hiding.

The biggest mystery of all might be the Switch’s screen… Is it a touchscreen? Will it work as a standalone tablet? Just how big is it? Thankfully, a new report from Eurogamer might have shed some light on several of these questions.

Citing many of the same anonymous sources that confirmed the Switch was a console/handheld hybrid long before Nintendo did, the Eurogamer report said that the Switch will display images in 720p resolution and measure 6.2″ in size (slightly larger than the iPhone 7 Plus). Best of all, the screen will feature a capacitive multi-touch touchscreen, opening up the possibility that the Switch could also work as a standalone tablet.

Nintendo declined Eurogamer’s request to comment on this report, so feel free to make your own wild leaps of logic in the comments below.